Mount Kailash Climate

In fact, the Mt. Kailash weather is very hard to predict, since it changes rapidly. Different Mt. Kailash weather condition give tourists different sceneries.  We believe that no one wants to miss the beautiful scenery of Mt. Kailash because of bad weather. To escape the bad weather, tourists are advised to learn about the Mt. Kailash weather conditions before getting there.

Climate and Weather of Mount Kailash

Like most areas of Tibet, the Mount Kailash have a large temperature difference between daytime and night. The climate is mild and pleasant from May to August. The average temperature in Summer is around 15℃, which is ideal for outdoor activities, such as going for kora and visiting nearby temples. Heavy rainfall from July to August makes it harder to pass through the rugged path in this area. From September to November, rainfall is less and the average temperature drops to 10℃. December to April in the following year has the coldest days in the whole year. Winter temperatures range from 5℃ to minus 15℃, and the surrounding areas of Mount Kailash are often covered by snow and ice, making it dangerous to get there. During these periods, sharp temperature reduction often occurs.

Features of Mount Kailash Climate 

• Average annual temperature is -0.7 Celsius
• 553mm of precipitation annually
• Lowest precipitation in November at 7mm
• Most precipitation in August, with 125mm average
• The Hottest month is July, with average temperature of 8.3 Celsius
• The Coldest month is January, with average temperature of -9.7 Celsius

Mount Kailash Temperature Chart

Note: The statistics of Mount Kailash temperature and rainfall were observed and collected from Darchen Town, the starting and ending point of the Mount Kailash Trekking, the area beyond Tarchen of trekking trails into mountains could be colder, especially in the early morning and night, particularly on trekking day 2 when trek over the Drolma-la Pass.

Mount Kailash Weather and Climate by Month

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

Four Seasons of Mount Kailash and What to Pack

It is generally cool during nights and warm during days at Mt. Kailash.  The hottest three months are June (6.8 C average), July (8.3 C average) and August (8 C average), while the coldest three months are December (-8.2 C average), January (-9.7 average) and February (-8.5 C average). Accordingt o the features of Mount Kailash weather and climate, Mount Kailash boasts three seasons, summer, monsoons and winter, detailed as follows:

• Summer (May to August) are very pleasant with moderate climate, with average around 15°C. Summers is ideal for all outdoor activities, temple visit, dip in holy waters and also for visiting nearby attractions. A grand religious festival Saga Dawa Festival is usually held at Mt. Kailash around May and June each year.
  What to Pack: long shirt, sweater, down coat, out door warm jacket, rain gear, sunblock. 
• Monsoon (September to November) are accompanied with little rain falls and also temperature drops down to 10°C. However, the heavy rainfall usually occurs from July to August, making it harder to pass through the rugged path in this area.
  What to Pack: outdoor sweat pants, down coat, thick coat, rain gear, sunblock. 
• Winter (December to April) are chilly days with average minimum touching near 5°C. Minimum can touch sub zero levels to -15°C. Snow falls often during winters. The best season to visit Kailash Mansarovar is from May to November.
  What to Pack:  thermal pants, wind-proof knee pads, outdoor sweat pants, fleece-lined underwear, thick sweater, water-proof climbing wear or down coat, climbing boot and light water-proof snow boot, as well as gauze mask, sun glasses and gloves.

May to November offers cool and pleasant climate and is the right period to spend meditation and also good for visiting temples in and around. December to April is snow bound and chilly, tourists typically keep off chilly snow bound days in winters.

Best Time to Visit Mount Kailash

Among the four seasons, the best time and season to visit Mt. Kailash is spring and autumn (Feb – May and late Sep – Nov), which are the main trekking months with fairly stable weather conditions and good visibility.

Late February to early May are popular months for trekking, with the weather warmer and flowers in bloom on the side of the road. Longer days with more sunlight coincide warming temperatures, less precipitation and good visibility, all of which provides tourists with great chances for trekking. Besides, another great time for visiting Mt. Kailash is from October to Early November, when the sky is clear, air is fresh and temperatures are comfortable. The Mt. Kailash has been washed clean by the monsoon rains, and looks particularly lush and verdant.
 
In addition to a good weather condition, the festival is also a factor that attract tourists to visit Mt. Kailash. Every year from May to June, pilgrims from all over Tibet and Asia come to Tibet to celebrate Saga Dawa Festival, which is one of the most solemn and important religious festivals in Tibet. On that day, tourists can join the pilgrims to erase their sin of a lifetime. Our 14 Days Tibet-Nepal Overland Tour with Saga Dawa Festival and Mount Kailash is recommended to you for the festival.

Travel Tips Based on Mount Kailash Weather

• From April to October, warm clothes are always advised because snowy weather is maybe just around the next pass especially when trek over the arduous Drolma-la Pass at the height of 5640 meters. Down coat must be used in April, May, September and October.
• You’ d better not visit it from the 3rd week of October till the beginning of April, cause the weather is really cold and the trails might be blocked by snow.
• If you’re going to a Mt Kailash tour in June and September, better book your tour at least 1 month in advance, because the very large Indian pilgrims groups always book out the entire hotels on their way to Mt Kailash.

Other Travel Tips for Visiting Mount Kailash

• When visiting Mount Kailash, tourists should not only prepare the Tibet Travel permit, but also the Alien's Travel Permit issued by the local public security bureau. Besides, the procedures of obtaining Alien's Travel Permit may be different for Indians. How to Get Tibet Travel Permit, Successful Application Tips
• In order to acclimatize to the altitude of Mount Kailash and make a good preparation, you should arrange the Mount Kailash trip in the later part of the whole Tibet tour when planning your itinerary and drink as much water as you can during the trip.
• You should bring much more things, including warm clothes (even in summer), tents, sleeping bags, waterproof mattresses, some high-calorie foods like chocolate, water, some medicines like cold medicines and Rhodiola, etc. Because accommodation conditions and food supplies at Mount Kailash are very limited.
• There are yaks and horses that can help you carry your baggage at a high cost, or you can hire a porter and pay by the day.
• Trekking at Mount Kailash is popular among tourists. What you should pack for circumambulating the Mount Kailash includes Quick-drying underwear and socks, Sweaters/pull-overs, Jackets, Fleece, Trekking Shoes, gloves, backpack, trekking poles, sleeping bags, Toiletries, medicines, moisture and sunscreen products, sunhat and sunglasses, high-calorie food, flashlight and rain gears, etc.

Read More:

• Ngari Weather and Climate
• Best Time to Visit Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet